Based on an interview with John Cage, conducted by Charles Amirkhanian at the Exploratorium's Speaking of Music in San Francisco, this Ode to Gravity program was heard nationwide over the NPR satellite. Amirkhanian begins with a quick history of Cage's musical upbringing, leading into an interview conducted with Cage during preparation for the San Francisco Symphony's "all-Cage" evening in 1983.

The program opens with a performance of "Double Music" (1941) written jointly by Cage and Lou Harrison. The music is performed by the Manhattan Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Cage.

Amirkhanian gives background on Cage, including the influence of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg and Buddhism, leading into a summary of Cage's style.

Introduction of the interview, conducted at Davies Symphony Hall in 1983, during preparation for the San Francisco Symphony's "all-Cage" evening.

Cage discusses how he met filmmaker Oskar Fischinger through Galka Shire around 1935, which led him to composing music for percussion instruments. Cage relates this music to silence and zen, moving away from the usual motivation of music as communication" towards "music as a means of sobering and quieting the mind, thus subjecting it to divine influences."

Cage discusses his "Credo in Us", composed in 1942 in New York City for a dance choreographed by Merce Cunningham and Jean Erdman.

"Credo in Us" performed by Musica Negativa, conducted by Reiner Riehn.

Part I (57:43)
John Cage/Lou Harrison: Double Music
performed by Manhattan Percussion Ensemble
conducted by John Cage

Interview with Cage (1983)

Credo in US (1942)
performed by Musica Negativa
conducted by Reiner Riehn
on "Music before Revolution" (EMI)

Ryoanji (1983)
Michael Pugliese percussion, Isabell Ganz mezzo soprano
(Mode Records)

Part II (57:58)
Experiences No. 2 (1945-1948)
text from Tulips and Chimneys by e.e. cummings
performed by Robert Wyatt on
"Jan Steele/John Cage: Voices and Instruments"
(EG Obscure 5)

Lecture: EurOperas I & II
Speaking of Music series at the McBean Theater, SF
January 8, 1987

MusiCircus -- November 21, 1969 featuring
How to Improve the World (You will only make matters worse) (1966)
(part 2)
recorded by Alan Farley, KPFA at UC Davis 1971

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